Bridge support for submarines



Feb. 24, 1931. H. -GRIESHABER n 15793396 BRIDGE SUPPORT FOR ASUBHARINEIS med April 4, 1928 d?! 21672 fd?" QU/55.1.2.5 v j/(gga Z' rtefza bef' .iQ/f y m/0%, l waff 35 station; a comfortable,

Patented Feb. 24, 1931 iJNiTED STATES PATENT oil-'FICE HUGO E. GRIESHABER, OF NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT, SSIGNOR TO ELECTRIC BOAT l COMPANY, OF GROTON, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY BRIDGE SUPPORT Application filed April 4,

`This `invention relates to bridge structure for submarine boats, and more particularly to the means for supporting the bridge.

Itis the universal practice in submarine 5 construction to provide a heavy water tight conning tower over or near the main operating compartment for navigating the boat in rough weather and while trimming for diving. It is usually equipped with periscope, navigating instruments and other heavy equipment, and forms the main support for the bridge structure above and a stream line fairwater enclosing itself, foundations for periscopes, telescopic masts, clearing line supports, ventilators, and other equipment which usually projects above the strength hull at this part of the vessel.

This conning tower has to be designed to stand the full depth submergence pressure 0 and is accordingly of heavy construction rendering the boat top heavy and interfering with the stability thereof. In actual practice the conning tower is seldom used, particularly on the larger submarine boats. I there- 5 forepropose to omit the eonning tower and to replace it by a relatively light bridge structure. This light bridge structure, with its enclosed miscellaneous foundations, is supported and secured to the main hull by a gun 0 foundation and two or `more hatch structures which `I propose to erect at this part of the vessel. This structure. will provide an elevated gun foundation which may be used in relatively rough weather; a surface conning well ventilated space y for the crew; `and,`above all, a machine or anti-aircraft gun platform. In this manner I do away with the present relatively heavy vconning tower which is commonly used in submarine boats; thus effecting a great increase in stability of the boat while also providing additional space for the crew and suitable gun mountings. Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the detailed description.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of the central portion y of a submarine boat of known type, showing a bridge structure in accordance with my invention applied thereto;

FOR SUBMARINES 1928. Serial No. 267,244.

Fig. 2 is a section taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, this section being taken through the two hatches and the trunlrs therefor extending from the hull, parts being shown in elevation.

I have illustrated my invention as appliec to a submarine boat B including a hull 1 and a main or superstructure deck 2 therefor of known construction. The interior of this hull is divided by suitable bulkheads into water-tight compartments, such as the compartments, 3, l and 5 separated by the bulkheads G and 7. Compartment 4L is provided with ahatch 8 opening through the top of the hull and having associated therewith a cover 9 which maybe secured closed to efl'ect a water-tight closure of the hatch in a known manner. Compartment 5 is provided with a similar hatch 10 and associated cover l1. A suitable ladder 12 provided for usc of the hatches, as is usual.

A water-tight hatch trunk 13 is secured about hatch 8 and extends upwardly therefrom, this trunk being provided at its upper end with a reduced neck forming a hatch opening 14 which is closed by a hatch cover cr door 15 mounted on thc upper end of the trunk. said cover opening outward and being` secured closed in a known manner to elfect a water-tight closure of the upper end of the trunlr. The hatch trunlr 13 is constructed to withstand the full depth submergence pressure. A. similaihatch `trunk 1G is mounted about the batch 10 and is provided at its upper end with a'rcduced neck defining a hatch opening` 17 closed by a cover 18 similar to cover 15. A suitable ladder 19 is disposed in each of the hatch trunks to facilitate entry into and exit from the same, as is well understood.

The trunk 13 is` provided at its upper end with a shoulder 20, due to the provision of the reduced neck defining the hatch opening 14.-, and the trunk 16 is provided with a shoulder 21, due to the provision of the reduced neck defining the hatch opening 17. The hatch trunks, in conjunction with the hatch covers at the upper and lower ends thereof, provide means whereby the men can escape from either of the water-tight comparte comwith the vertical plane of the keel of thev boat. It is also to be noted that the centers of' the hatch trunks 13 and 16 are on, or but a short distance to one side of, the plane of the keel. Y f

A fair water 24 of stream line construction,

gradually tapering aft to reduce resistance to water when running submerged to a minimum, encloses the gun foundation 22, hatch structures 13 and -16, and `m1scellaneous Y foundations for other equipment. At the top of the gu'nfoundationv and extending aft .to

i bulkhead 25, 1' provide deck 23. Above deck 23 and just aft Vof hatch 16 I erect a vertical stream line structure 35a supporting deck 36, the sides tapering into fairwater 24 and defining the forward limit of the surface conning station. l

The bridge structure proper, designated in its entirety by reference number 34,'is securely fastened to main deck 2, but receives its principal support from gun foundation 22 and hatch structures 13 and 16.

The space defined by fairwater 24 vand beneath deck 23 provides a well ventilated space that may be devoted to the comforts of the crew; and those skilled in the art will know how to divide this space with bulkheads, floors, doors and air ports to provide such accommodations. In the accompanying drawings I have shown transverse bulkheads 25 and 26 and a longitudinal bulkhead 27 dividing this space into a smoking room and two toilets with access to the former from main deck 2 by door 31, and from deck 23 by means of hatch 32; and to the latter from the main deck 2 by door 29. Preferably this space is also provided with air ports 30 and access ladder 33. VIt willV be noted that top deck 36 is supported by fairwaters 35 and 35a,

and provides a platform on which may be mounted suitable anti-aircraft or, machine guns 37. y'

`A gun 40, provided with a supporting base 41,'is mounted for turning movement upon the gun foundation 22. This gun has secured to the base 41 thereof a fairwater structure 42 which turns with the gun. rllhis structure is of stream line shape and the aft end of the base thereof is curved or arched concentric kwith the axis on which kthe gun turns, as in Fig. 1.

When vthe gun is disposed inits normal positiomthat is, in fore and aft position, the side walls 42a of structure 42 are disposed closely adjacent the forward ends of extensions 43 of the side walls of the fairwater 35,

the extensions V43 and the walls of structure 42 forming, in effect, an upper portion of the 'forward portionof thev'lower fairwater 24 and coinciding therewith. he parts of the several structures are thus so related that they offer minimum resistance to the water when the boat is running submerged.

The hatch trunk 16 gives access to the deck 23 forward of the bridge structure and adjacent the gun 40. This trunk is sufficiently large to accommodate several men standing in the trunk with the lower hatch closed` so that, upon the proper! signal being given, these vmen can open the top hatch of the trunk and obtain quick access to the gun platform 44 of structure 42a. Preferably service ammunition 45 is suitably supported on the side walls 42a of the structure 42 so as to be immediately available for use in the gun 40. l Valso provide an ammunition hoistl 46 extending from the ammunition room 47tojthe deck 23 immediately forward of the bridge for supplying ammunition to the men on the gun platform. As clearly illustrated inffigure 2, the fairwater defined by extensions 43 of fairwater 35 is open at the gun end thereof, fairwater 42 being open at its inner fend. This is advantageous as giving direct access to the gun from the supplemental deck.

The bridge structure thus provided provides relatively light and highly eflicient means forming suitable supports or foundations for' the periscopes, telescopic mastsV and other fittings, and the bridge structure, together with the gun foundation and the hatch trunks, are conveniently grouped together at the central portion of the submarine boat.

The construction of the upper and lower fairwaters and associated parts is non-watertight, providing a quick flooding stream line structure in which space is vprovidedefor a surface conning station, an elevated gun platform, and an elevated machine or anti-aircraft gun platform, as well as additional space for the crew. Y

The compartment' 4 is the main control compartment of the submarine and receives the lower portions of periscopes 49, their upper supports 48 being shown on machine gun deck 36. Clearing-.lines 51 are fitted over clearing supports 52 mounted on deck 36 and are secured to the boat fore and aft in a known manner. Suitablestanchions 53' may be provided between the vdecks 36 and 23 and the top of the hull '1 in alignment with the supports 52. Telescopic masts (not shown) for radio communication, may be secured to bulkhead 25 or at any other convenient point in the structure. Those skilled in the art will know how to equip the surface conning station with all navigating equipment. l. have shown a chartboard 38, standard compass with projector in operating compartment 4, and air port 29. l have not considered it necessary to indicate engine room signals,

whistle pulls, and other navigating equipment which would normally be located on the bridge.

What I claim is rl. In a submarine boat, a hatch trunk projecting above the hull, a gun foundation projecting above the hull, a deck supported by said trunk and the foundation, and a gun mounted on said gun foundation.

2. In a submarine boat, watertight coinpartment-s within the hull of the boat, said huil having hatches giving access to said compartments, watertight hatch trunks extending about said hatches and projecting above the hull, water-tight covers for closing the hatches, water-tight covers for closing the upper ends of the trunks, a deck above the hull, a bridge on the aft portion of saidl deck, and a gun foundation anda gun thereon at the forward portion of the deck, one of the hatch trunks giving access to the bridge and another of the hatch trunks giving access to the forward portion of said deck.

3. In a submarine boat comprising a hull and a main deck thereof, hatch trunks pro` jecting from the hull above the main deck, a supplemental deck supported by said trunks, a fairwater enclosing the space between said decks, a top deck above the supplemental deck, and a fairweather enclosing the space between the top deck and the supplemental deck, the side walls of the upper fairwater merging into the side walls of the lower fairwater.

4. In a submarine boat comprising a hull and a main deck therefor, hatch trunks extending upwardly from the hull, a gun foundation extending upwardly from the hull, a supplemental deck supported by the trunks and the gun foundation, a top deck above said supplemental deck and terminating aft of the gun foundation, a fairwater enclosing the space between the main deck and the supplemental deck, and a fairwater enclosing the space between the supplemental deck and the top deck. 5. In a submarine boat comprising a hull and a main deck thereof, hatch trunks extending upwardly from the hull, a gun foun- A dation extending upwardly from the hull, a

supplemental deck supported by the trunks and the gun foundation, atop deck above said supplemental deck and terminating aft of the gun foundation, a fairwater enclosing the space between the main deck and the supplemental deck, and a fairwater enclosing the space between the supplemental deck and the top deck, one of the trunks giving access to the supplemental deck aft of the upper fairwater and another trunk giving access to the supplemental deck forward of said upper fairwater.

6. In a submarine boat comprising a hull and a main deck therefor, a supplemental deck above the main deck, a top deck above the supplemental deck, a gun foundation at the forward portion of the supplemental deck, a gun and a supporting base therefor mounted on said foundation, the top deck terminating aft of the gun, a lower fairwater enclosing the space between the supplemental deck and the main deck and extending forward beyond the gun foundation, an upper fairwater enclosing the space between the upper deck and the supplement-al deck, the side walls of said upper fairwater being extended forward, and a fairwater extending forward of and about the gun base and having its side walls disposed to form continuations of the extensions of the side walls of the upper fairwater.

7. In a submarine boat comprising a hull and a main deck therefor, a supplemental deck above the main deck, a gun base at one end ofthe supplemental deck, a gun mounted upon said base, a fairwater extending about the supplemental deck and open at the gun end thereof, a fairwater extending about the gun base and aligned with and opening into the supplemental deck fairwater when the gun is in its normal fore and aft position, and a hatch trunk giving access from the interior of the hull to said supplemental deck at the gun end thereof.

8. In a submarine boat comprising a hull and a main deck therefor, a supplemental deck above the main deck, a gun base at one end of the supplemental deck, a gun mounted upon said base, a fairwater extending about the supplemental deck and open at the gun end thereof, a fairwater extending about the gun base and aligned with and opening into the supplemental deck fairwater when the gun is in its normal fore and aft position, a hatch trunk giving access from the interior of the hull to said supplemental deck at the gun end thereof, and a second hatch trunk giving access to the supplemental deck from the interior of the hull and at a point remote from the gun.

9. In a submarine boat comprising a hull and a main deck therefor, a supplemental deck above the main deck, a gun base at one end of the supplemental deck, a gun mounted upon said base, a fairwater extending about the supplemental deck and open at the gun end thereof, a fairwater extending about the gun base and aligned with and opening into the supplemental deck fairwater when the gun is in its normal fore and aftposition, and two hatch trunks extending upwardly from the hull and supporting the supplemental deck, one of the trunks giving access from the interior of the hull to the supplemental deck at the gun end thereof and the other trunk giving access from the interior of the hull to said supplemental deck adjacent the other end thereof.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name on this 20th day of March, 1928.

HUGO E. GRIESHABER. 

